This is a brilliantly funny and heart-warming tale of a middle class London family who up sticks to the country. Through the ups and downs of their first year, the books reveals that life in the country isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Viner’s humorous prose will have you in stitches much of the time and whether you enjoyed Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence this one is well worth a punt as it’s ten times better.
Brian Viner and his family had enjoyed much about their nice little middle-class patch of north London, but gradually realised they were suffering from a severe case of 'metropause' -- the desire to swap the hassles of London life for the serenity of the countryside. After a long search they found the house of their dreams in rural Herefordshire. But is the quiet life all it's cracked up to be? More importantly, where does one go to get a decent cappuccino?
'A Year in Provence' with less sunshine but more laughs, TALES OF THE COUNTRY is a wonderfully entertaining and heart-warming account of the Viners' adjustment from town to country. Full of anecdote and character, it is a superbly beguiling book about what is really important in life, and the joys and trials encountered along the road towards it.
